Government Jobs in Michigan: Employers & Pay

2,861

local governments (2022)

counties

1,773

cities, towns and townships

438

special districts

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates; U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 Census of Governments — Government Organization. Data captured September 30, 2026.

Michigan state government pay plan

Michigan Civil Service Commission publishes the classification and pay plan for Michigan state employees: 1,229 job classes and 819 pay grades, effective October 1, 2025. Below are the classes that match GovJobsWiki jobs, with annual ranges converted from the plan's published rates.

Job	Classes in the MI plan	Annual range
Accountant (government)	Accountant-E, Accountant-A 2 classes	$51,834 – $90,958
Bank / Financial Examiner	Financial Inst Examiner-E, Financial Inst Examiner-A 2 classes	$51,917 – $100,069
Child Support Officer	Child Support Specialist-E, Child Support Specialist-A 2 classes	$50,877 – $82,035
Civil Engineer (DOT / city / county)	Engineer-E, Transportation Engineer-E, +2 more 4 classes	$67,454 – $120,203
Contract / Procurement Specialist	Buyer-E, Buyer Trainee-E, Buyer-A 3 classes	$51,834 – $90,958
Correctional Officer (state prison)	Corrections Officer Trainee-E, Corrections Officer-E 2 classes	$44,429 – $73,278
Court Reporter (official)	Hearings Reporter-E 1 class	$58,365 – $82,659
Crime Scene Investigator / Forensic Technician	Forensic Technician-E, Forensic Scientist-E, +2 more 4 classes	$42,848 – $97,344
Custodian (schools & public buildings)	Janitor-E, Janitor-A 2 classes	$40,331 – $55,307
Engineering Technician (DOT)	Engineering Technician-E, Transportation Technician-E, +2 more 4 classes	$51,418 – $92,165
Environmental Engineer	Environmental Engineer-E, Environmental Engineer-A 2 classes	$67,454 – $120,203
Epidemiologist	Epidemiologist-E, Epidemiologist-A 2 classes	$58,365 – $100,173
Fire Inspector / Fire Marshal	Fire Safety Inspector-E, Fire Safety Inspector-A 2 classes	$50,378 – $77,792
Fish & Game Warden	Conservation Officer-E, Conservation Officer Sr-A 2 classes	$55,890 – $102,419
Fleet Mechanic (city/county)	Automotive Mechanic-E, Heavy Equipment Mechanic-E, +2 more 4 classes	$45,885 – $82,306
Forester	Forester-E, Forester-A 2 classes	$52,062 – $95,389
Forestry Technician (USFS)	Forest Technician-E, Forest Technician-A 2 classes	$42,848 – $76,814
Government Attorney (agency counsel)	Attorney Staff-E, Attorney Senior-A 2 classes	$69,742 – $149,011
Government Auditor	Auditor-E, Auditor-A 2 classes	$50,835 – $95,222
Heavy Equipment Operator (government)	Equipment Operator-E, Equipment Operator-A 2 classes	$44,491 – $69,909
Highway / Road Maintenance Worker (DOT)	Transportation Maint Worker-E, Transportation Maint Worker-A 2 classes	$44,491 – $69,909
Human Resources Specialist (government)	Human Resources Analyst-E, Human Resources Analyst-A, +3 more 5 classes	$51,834 – $121,659
Policy / Management Analyst	Planning Analyst-E, Planning Analyst-A 2 classes	$51,834 – $90,958
Public Information Officer	Communications Specialist-2, Communications Specialist-3, Communications Specialist-4 3 classes	$66,539 – $121,659
Social Worker (government)	Clinical Social Worker-E, Clinical Social Worker-A 2 classes	$66,893 – $114,275
Soil Conservationist / Conservation Scientist	Soil Scientist-E, Soil Scientist-A 2 classes	$52,062 – $95,389
State Trooper / Highway Patrol Officer	State Police Cadet, State Police Trooper-E, State Police Trooper Trainee-E 3 classes	$25,958 – $103,522
Urban / City Planner	Transportation Planner-E, Transportation Planner-A 2 classes	$50,003 – $98,280
Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor	Rehabilitation Counselor-E, Rehabilitation Counselor-A 2 classes	$62,837 – $106,330
Wildlife / Fisheries Biologist	Fisheries Biologist-E, Wildlife Biologist-E, +2 more 4 classes	$52,062 – $95,389

Classes are matched to jobs by title (GovJobsWiki editorial rule).

Source: Michigan Civil Service Commission, Michigan Civil Service Commission Compensation Plan, Sections A (Alphabetic List of Pay Ranges) and B (Numeric List of Pay Ranges). Data captured September 30, 2026.

Public employers in Michigan

Fire departments · 367

Employer	City	Career firefighters	Website
City of Detroit Fire Department	Detroit	1,098	Official site
City of Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety	Kalamazoo	268	Official site
Grand Rapids Fire Department	Grand Rapids	194	Official site
Lansing Fire Department	Lansing	190	Official site
Warren Fire Department	Warren	128	—
Dearborn Fire Department	Dearborn	121	—
Charter Township of Waterford	Waterford	107	Official site
Sterling Heights Fire Department	Sterling Heights	106	Official site
Southfield Fire Department	Southfield	99	Official site
West Bloomfield Fire Department	West Bloomfield	96	Official site

All 367 fire departments in Michigan →

Transit agencies · 81

Employer	City	Vehicles operated directly	Website
Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation	Detroit	259	Official site
Mass Transportation Authority	Flint	245	Official site
City of Detroit	Detroit	178	Official site
Capital Area Transportation Authority	Lansing	119	Official site
Interurban Transit Partnership	Grand Rapids	113	Official site
Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority	Ann Arbor	80	Official site
Bay Area Transportation Authority	Traverse City	51	Official site
Saginaw Transit Authority Regional Service	Saginaw	51	Official site
Bay Metropolitan Transit Authority	Bay City	50	Official site
Huron County Board of Commissioners	Bad Axe	49	Official site

All 81 transit agencies in Michigan →

School districts · 536

Employer	City	Teachers (FTE)	Website
Detroit Public Schools Community District	Detroit	3,032	Official site
Utica Community Schools	Sterling Heights	1,416	Official site
Dearborn City School District	Dearborn	1,302	Official site
Ann Arbor Public Schools	Ann Arbor	1,132	Official site
Plymouth-Canton Community Schools	Plymouth	910	Official site
Grand Rapids Public Schools	Grand Rapids	839	Official site
Livonia Public Schools School District	Livonia	839	Official site
Chippewa Valley Schools	Clinton Township	774	Official site
Rochester Community School District	Rochester Hls	771	Official site
Warren Consolidated Schools	Warren	754	Official site

All 536 school districts in Michigan →

Police departments · 439

Municipal and county police departments in the FBI's law-enforcement agency list. Staff size is not yet collected for this kind of employer.

All 439 police departments in Michigan →

Sheriff's offices · 83

County sheriff's offices in the FBI's law-enforcement agency list. Staff size is not yet collected for this kind of employer.

All 83 sheriff's offices in Michigan →

Campus police departments · 25

College and university police departments in the FBI's law-enforcement agency list. Staff size is not yet collected for this kind of employer.

All 25 campus police departments in Michigan →

Sources: U.S. Fire Administration (FEMA), National Fire Department Registry; Federal Transit Administration, National Transit Database 2024 — Reporter Agency Information; National Center for Education Statistics, Common Core of Data, 2024–25 local education agency universe (directory and staff); Federal Bureau of Investigation, Crime Data Explorer — law-enforcement agencies by state (API). Data captured September 30, 2026.

Pay for government jobs in Michigan

Median wage in Michigan for each job's occupation (all employers in the state), next to the national median in government. Largest occupations first.

Job	Workers in MI	Median in MI	National, government
Correctional Nurse SOC 29-1141	104,950	$94,300	$100,490
Public Health Nurse SOC 29-1141	104,950	$94,300	$100,490
School Nurse SOC 29-1141	104,950	$94,300	$100,490
VA Nurse (Veterans Affairs) SOC 29-1141	104,950	$94,300	$100,490
Office Clerk / Clerk Typist (government) SOC 43-9061	88,030	$44,820	$46,170
City / County Manager SOC 11-1021	85,860	$99,530	$137,300
IRS Customer Service Representative SOC 43-4051	71,310	$43,950	$45,860
Custodian (schools & public buildings) SOC 37-2011	65,790	$36,050	$39,640
Accountant (government) SOC 13-2011	41,460	$78,820	$81,390
Government Auditor SOC 13-2011	41,460	$78,820	$81,390
Elementary School Teacher SOC 25-2021	40,910	$65,110	$65,310
Public School Teacher (hub) SOC 25-2021	40,910	$65,110	$65,310
Administrative Assistant (government) SOC 43-6014	40,830	$46,020	$48,290
School Secretary / Office Manager SOC 43-6014	40,830	$46,020	$48,290
Paraprofessional / Teacher Aide SOC 25-9045	39,030	$35,110	$36,990
Parks / Grounds Maintenance Worker SOC 37-3011	32,330	$38,120	$40,080
ESL / ELL Teacher SOC 25-2031	25,540	$66,030	$74,220
High School Teacher SOC 25-2031	25,540	$66,030	$74,220
Human Resources Specialist (government) SOC 13-1071	25,520	$69,520	$80,330
Child Support Officer SOC 13-1199	20,940	$81,810	$91,060
Death Investigator / Coroner SOC 13-1199	20,940	$81,810	$91,060
Foreign Service Officer (diplomat) SOC 13-1199	20,940	$81,810	$91,060
Grants Specialist / Manager SOC 13-1199	20,940	$81,810	$91,060
Border Patrol Agent SOC 33-3051	16,750	$73,730	$76,300
Campus / University Police Officer SOC 33-3051	16,750	$73,730	$76,300
CBP Officer (Customs & Border Protection) SOC 33-3051	16,750	$73,730	$76,300
Deputy Sheriff SOC 33-3051	16,750	$73,730	$76,300
Federal Police Officer (VA, Pentagon, Capitol…) SOC 33-3051	16,750	$73,730	$76,300
ICE Deportation Officer SOC 33-3051	16,750	$73,730	$76,300
Police Officer SOC 33-3051	16,750	$73,730	$76,300

Several jobs can share one occupation code.

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — national estimates by ownership. Data captured September 30, 2026.

Government jobs in Michigan